SMU Dedicates New Residential Commons Complex

SMU dedicated its new Residential Commons complex May 9, enabling all first-year and sophomore students to live on campus and launching the Residential Commons model campus-wide.

The $146 million complex is the largest capital project in SMU’s history, part of a larger initiative to enhance students’ living-learning experience, starting in fall 2014. The dedication ceremony and building tours will begin at noon at 5905 Bush Ave. on the southeastern edge of the campus.

“Today’s dedication of the Residential Commons complex signifies an exciting new chapter in SMU history,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “Each Commons is designed to seamlessly combine the intellectual and social aspects of University life, a concept that will be implemented campus-wide in the fall. We are grateful to six generous families for transforming the SMU campus experience.”

Each five-story Commons in the new complex will be home to 250 students, a residence life director and a faculty member in residence. The faculty member will serve as mentor and intellectual leader of the community, and has the opportunity to teach a class or host study sessions in the classroom included in each Commons.